OF Journalists, Plots & Evacuee Property Trust.

KARACHI: Sindh Home Minister Dr Zulfiqar Ali Mirza submitted a privilege motion against the English and Urdu dailies of Jang Group, The News and Daily Jang for publishing a news story titled “Mirza to be shown the door in 12 days”. In his resolution, Mirza said that “The report gives credit to the delay in my removal to my wife, Dr Fehmida Mirza, who is the speaker of the national assembly and has repeatedly said that my immediate removal would be insulting for our family.” He said that the report has defamed him and his family and breached his privilege as a member of the assembly. “I hold the publisher of the newspapers and the editor of the news desk accountable for this breach of my privilege and request that they be summoned to the Standing Committee of the Sindh Assembly on Rules and Privileges to disclose the sources,” he maintained.

The News, Mir Shakeel-ur-Rehman slammed by Zulfiqar Mirza

URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QscmAhleDrI

In a very emotional speech, Mirza said that Jang Group had started a campaign against him after he refused to give incentives to the publisher. “He sent me a request through a reporter of his group asking if I could help him in the allotment of a plot worth Rs200 million, but I refused. Later, the anchors and reporters of his television channel and newspapers launched a campaign against me,” he said. He said that the owner of Jang Group evaded taxes, and was using different tactics to blackmail the government. During Mirza’s speech, members of the PPP thumped their desks chanting “shame, shame”.

Mir Shakil ur Rehman (GEO TV/DAILY JANG) is Exposed in Sindh Assembly (15 March 2011)

URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ct8LlKghRU

Warning the owner of Jang Group, Mirza said, “If he does not stop publishing fabricated stories against me and other party leaders, than I will disclose the secrets of the publisher from the time he was studying at Saint Patrick’s School,” he said. He further said, “There are reports that I am an incompetent minister, but I want to clarify here that I would prefer to work as a worker of the party and will step down in a second, if asked to do so. I don’t belong to the Makhdooms of Multan who stick to their portfolios,” he said. REFERENCE: Defamation charges: Mirza files privilege motion against Jang Group By Hafeez Tunio Published: March 16, 2011 http://tribune.com.pk/story/132852/mirza-moves-privilege-motion-against-english-daily/

PTV Exposes GEO TV & Jang Group of Newspapers Tax Default

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=325-ds5Hs_E

بارہ نجی چینلز ٹیکس ڈیفالٹر ہیں'
آخری وقت اشاعت: جمعـء 14 مئ 2010 , 14:28 GMT 19:28 PST
http://www.bbc.co.uk/urdu/pakistan/2010/05/100514_channels_tax_defaulters.shtml
پاکستان کے وزیر محنت و افرادی قوت سید خورشید احمد شاہ نےقومی اسمبلی کو بتایا ہے کہ ٹیکس نادہندگان میں بارہ نجی ٹی وی چینلز بھی شامل ہیں اور ان کی طرف حکومت کے تقریباً پونے تین ارب روپے کے ٹیکس بقایاجات ہیں۔
جمعہ کو حکومت اور حزب مخالف کے بعض اراکین کے توجہ دلاؤ نوٹس کا جواب دیتے ہوئے انہوں نے بتایا کہ اِن ٹی وی چینلز نے یہ رقم اشتہارات کے مد میں حاصل تو کی ہے لیکن حکومت کو ادا نہیں کر رہے۔
خورشید شاہ کے مطابق ٹیکس نادہندگان میں سرِفہرست جیو ٹی وی ہے
جس کے ذمے ایک ارب ارسٹھ کروڑ روپے ہیں۔

LAHORE: Lt Gen (retd) Javed Nasir, former chairman of the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) and once an ISI chief, has fled the country Pakistan after devouring an estimated sum of Rs 3 billion through sale of precious ETPB lands at rock bottom prices and financial bungling in the board's buildings in Islamabad. The ex-chairman relinquished his charge on July 16, 2001, as he was not accorded extension in service. Since then, files containing record of his corruption have been rotting in the cupboards of the ministry of religious affairs and NAB. Out of about 20 land deals, The News probed eight huge ones. About five kanals and 16 marlas of land known as RGA factory on main Ferozepur Road, Lahore was sold for Rs 348,000 while the land is worth Rs 45 million in the market. REFERENCE: Ex-ETPB chief flees country with Rs 3bn in pocket By MAK Lodhi Aug 23rd, 2002 (The News International) http://www.jang.com.pk/thenews/index.html  http://www.paklinks.com/gs/pakistan-affairs/69664-ex-isi-chief-tableeghi-leader-javid-naser-flees-with-rs-3bn.html

About 23 acres of prime land located in Malir Karachi were sold to a private builder and property developer at Rs 5.60 million at the rate of Rs 61 per square yard. The market value of the land is estimated to be Rs 267 million at the rate of Rs 2,900 per sq yd. Another 916 kanals at Bhaikot, Lahore, were allotted to eleven different persons during Gen Javed Nasir's last three days in the office, causing a loss of Rs 243 million. Another big chunk of 48 kanals of land located on the main Super Highway, Karachi was sold to Nazi (pvt) Ltd for Rs 48 million at Rs 2000 per sq yd. The land is worth Rs 240 million and could easily sell at Rs 10,000 per sq yd. Incidentally, the company was already ETPB defaulter. Another 100 kanals of prime land located on Raiwind Road, Lahore, WERE sold for Rs 46 million at Rs 460,000 per kanal against its market value of Rs 90 million. It was sold without holding open auction. After its allotment, the same land was re-sold at double the price. Another prized land piece of 38.18 kanals located at Tulspura (near Baghbanpura), close of Lahore canal, was sold at Rs 4.86 million at the rate of Rs 6,240 per marla. The market value of the land is said to be Rs 31.12 million at the rate of Rs 40,000 per marla. To sell the land to Mohammad Nadeem, was was declared that open auction brought no customer. REFERENCE: Ex-ETPB chief flees country with Rs 3bn in pocket By MAK Lodhi Aug 23rd, 2002 (The News International) http://www.jang.com.pk/thenews/index.html  http://www.paklinks.com/gs/pakistan-affairs/69664-ex-isi-chief-tableeghi-leader-javid-naser-flees-with-rs-3bn.html

Pakistani Journalists Living in Evacuee Trust Property Houses – Part – 1 (Matiullah Jan Dawn News)

URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZN5u-OMNe0

Government has rented out abandoned property at prime locations in Lahore to journalists at extremely low rates. The beneficiaries also include some big names of journalism. In this episode of Apna Gareban, Matiullah Jan exposes the names of these journalists and tries to talk to them, but unfortunately most of them refused to talk and give their side of the story. Guests: Syed Asif Hashmi (Chairman, Evacuee Trust Board), Haris Marghoob (Senior Journalist), Mujeeb-ur-Rahman Shami (Senior Journalist), Rizwan Razi (Senior Journalist), Tanvir Shahzad (Freelance Journalist). (Courtesy: Dawn News Pakistan  http://www.youtube.com/user/dawnnewspakistan)

One of the most luring sites was 167 kanals of land located between the new Lahore Airport and Defence Housing Society. It was sold for Rs 8.01 million at the rate of Rs 48,000 per kanal. The land holds excellent commercial prospects and can be developed and sold at even higher rates. At the time of its disposal, the land carried a market value of Rs 91.85 million. The ex-Chairman also leased PASSCO Godown on Maulana Ahmed Ali Road, Qila Lakhsman Singh, Lahore to a low bidder at Rs 1.0 million. The highest bid announced was at Rs 2.5 million but it was arbitrarily rejected by the chairman. The matter was brought to the notice of the federal government and an inquiry was ordered. Occupants of the land were paid Rs 1 million for vacating the place to hush up the matter. A price gap of Rs 1 billion occurs in the sale of only eight deals. Other deals include six kanals and seven kanals at Lidher, Lahore Cantt. At Mota Singhwala, Lahore, the ex-Chairman sold 96 kanals to one party, 90 to second and 100 kanals to third party. A number of other precious properties were sold out at throw-away prices in Multan, Rawalpindi and Peshawar also. Huge financial bunglings were carried out by relaxing contractual obligations for building ETPB Complex and Trust Plaza in Islamabad. The ex-Chairman was about to sell the Trust Plaza at a throw-away rates but held back when the Chief Executive intervened himself. The first inquiry against Lt Gen (retd) Javed Nasir took place in February, 2000, when President's Office was apprised of the colossal irregularities. As a 'test case', inquiry of embezzlement in ETPB Complex and Trust Plaza were initiated. It was found that tiles used in the Complex situated near Marriot Hotel, Islamabad were of inferior quality, no water-proofing on the building top was done, aluminium doors and windows were of as cheap as Rs 150 per sqft against contracted rate of Rs 450 per sqft, curtain walls of Rs 200 per sqft were installed against the contracted quality which cost Rs 600 per sqft. The building was completed in six years instead of contracted period of three years. The technical committee wanted to penalise the contractor but the ex-Chairman, not only ignored it but also advanced an amount of Rs 20 million. Over and above these favours, the ex-chairman paid Rs 250 million in addition by accepting contractor's escalation, damages and overhead expenditures.  It was estimated in the inquiry that the ex-Chairman had caused a loss of Rs 320 million in the civil works alone. The contractor used inferior material for false ceilings and glass works. The ex-chairman also visited the United States at the expense of the contractor. Against it, he was allowed further concessions. Instead of top quality US Air Handling Units, local AHUs were allowed to be installed, causing a loss of Rs 15 million. The ex-Chairman further rewarded him with Rs 25 million for escalation in dollar rates. For building 18-storey building in the Blue Area, the contracting firm delayed the project for two years. A firm not pre-qualified was employed arbitrarily for airconditioning contract. The ex-Chairman visited Japan at the expense of the firm and allowed it concessions. The firm got advances and never finished the work. REFERENCE: Ex-ETPB chief flees country with Rs 3bn in pocket By MAK Lodhi Aug 23rd, 2002 (The News International) http://www.jang.com.pk/thenews/index.html  http://www.paklinks.com/gs/pakistan-affairs/69664-ex-isi-chief-tableeghi-leader-javid-naser-flees-with-rs-3bn.html

Pakistani Journalists Living in Evacuee Trust Property Houses – Part – 2 (Matiullah Jan Dawn News)

 URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtMsjoAkIFE

Government has rented out abandoned property at prime locations in Lahore to journalists at extremely low rates. The beneficiaries also include some big names of journalism. In this episode of Apna Gareban, Matiullah Jan exposes the names of these journalists and tries to talk to them, but unfortunately most of them refused to talk and give their side of the story. Guests: Syed Asif Hashmi (Chairman, Evacuee Trust Board), Haris Marghoob (Senior Journalist), Mujeeb-ur-Rahman Shami (Senior Journalist), Rizwan Razi (Senior Journalist), Tanvir Shahzad (Freelance Journalist). (Courtesy: Dawn News Pakistan  http://www.youtube.com/user/dawnnewspakistan)

The Evacuee Trust Property Board had been set up in 1960 to manage properties attached to Hindu and Sikh charitable trusts and shrines. It was reconstituted in 1975 as a legislative act of parliament, authorizing ETPB to lease out urban and rural lands under its jurisdiction. It included urban residential lands and commercial shops as well. How much property is owned by the ETPB no one knows exactly as it remained a closely guarded secret of those who spent their life-time in the organization. The property could not be sold out under Liaquat-Nehru Pact and ideally its income was to be used for the welfare of people and maintenance of Hindu and Sikh shrines. Long term lease could be made by the federal ministry for religious, minority affairs while short-term leases could be struck by ETPB officials. The ETPB, however, remained the prime source of illegal income for its employees and successive mandarins of various governments. Mouths of rulers drivelled at the worth of the properties like sweet grapes hung by entwining twigs.

The grand sleaze started during Gen Zia ul Haq's time when its corrupt managers were allowed to sell the properties and even give away to his favorites in charity. Many previous Chairmen, ETPB made money by declaring certain properties as non-trust, using their judicial discretion. During Benazir Bhutto's tenure, Sardar Fateh Mohammad Hassani was appointed its Chairman. The grand loot began during his tenure. He used the good offices of M H Bhatti, a clerk who rose to the office of Vice Chairman by dint of his expertise in ETPB properties. He gathered a team of dirty-doers and obliged senior officers in the ministry. His team included specialist brokers. The most corrupt among them were Ch Muzaffar Ali (patwari) and Khawaja Shahid Nazir. REFERENCE: Ex-ETPB chief flees country with Rs 3bn in pocket By MAK Lodhi Aug 23rd, 2002 (The News International) http://www.jang.com.pk/thenews/index.html  http://www.paklinks.com/gs/pakistan-affairs/69664-ex-isi-chief-tableeghi-leader-javid-naser-flees-with-rs-3bn.html 

Pakistani Journalists Living in Evacuee Trust Property Houses – Part – 3 (Matiullah Jan Dawn News)

URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjFbAj8UQUs

Government has rented out abandoned property at prime locations in Lahore to journalists at extremely low rates. The beneficiaries also include some big names of journalism. In this episode of Apna Gareban, Matiullah Jan exposes the names of these journalists and tries to talk to them, but unfortunately most of them refused to talk and give their side of the story. Guests: Syed Asif Hashmi (Chairman, Evacuee Trust Board), Haris Marghoob (Senior Journalist), Mujeeb-ur-Rahman Shami (Senior Journalist), Rizwan Razi (Senior Journalist), Tanvir Shahzad (Freelance Journalist). (Courtesy: Dawn News Pakistan  http://www.youtube.com/user/dawnnewspakistan)

Muzaffar was promoted to the rank of Deputy Secretary and Administrator (He is now in NAB custody). Muzaffar became a 'blued eyed boy' of every Chairman because of being a good broker. He had also hired a retired officer for drafting letters and correspondence in English. Lt Gen (retd) Khawaja Javed Nasir of Engineering Corps, who was a friend of Mian Mohammad Sharif, father of former prime minister Mr Nawaz Sharif and former chief minister Mr Shahbaz Sharif, was appointed Chairman, ETPB. The later rendered expert services to Sharif family, one of which was conversion of Rs 4 billion under a Trust known as Sharif Medical and Educational Complex, (now) Jati Umra (Raiwind). Some of the biggest financial scandals have been occurring under the cover of 'trusts' manned by unscrupulous people. Kh Javed Nasir had instant liking of Ch Muzaffar Ali and Khwaja Shahid Nazir. The latter was immediately promoted for building a bridge of corruption as a family clan. Shahid Nazir was already a notorious name as Deputy Administrator, Rawalpindi. He had managed fake approval letter for sale of 80 ETPB shops in Bara Market, Raja Bazar. He had sold shops instantly to tenants and pockets huge amount. Later, the case landed with FIA and this organization had its pound of flesh in the shape of graft money. The government lost properties worth billions of rupees. Javed Nasir struck his first fat deal with a person Zahid Shah courtesy Ch Muzaffar Ali. Zahid, a litigant, against ETPB became a friend and 35 kanals of precious ETPB land located at Chungi Amer Sadhu, adjacent to Overhead Bridge, Ferozepur Road was sold at Rs 60,000 per kanal through an executive order of the ex-Chairman. The land was worth Rs 1 million per kanal. The rest of the sales of ETPB land throughout the country, specially of 'juicy plots and lands' constituted a grand sleaze. According to estimates, the party made away with nearly Rs 3 billion. REFERENCE: Ex-ETPB chief flees country with Rs 3bn in pocket By MAK Lodhi Aug 23rd, 2002 (The News International) http://www.jang.com.pk/thenews/index.html  http://www.paklinks.com/gs/pakistan-affairs/69664-ex-isi-chief-tableeghi-leader-javid-naser-flees-with-rs-3bn.html 

Pakistani Journalists Living in Evacuee Trust Property Houses – Part – 4 (Matiullah Jan Dawn News)

 URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEAEiIUtwrM

Government has rented out abandoned property at prime locations in Lahore to journalists at extremely low rates. The beneficiaries also include some big names of journalism. In this episode of Apna Gareban, Matiullah Jan exposes the names of these journalists and tries to talk to them, but unfortunately most of them refused to talk and give their side of the story. Guests: Syed Asif Hashmi (Chairman, Evacuee Trust Board), Haris Marghoob (Senior Journalist), Mujeeb-ur-Rahman Shami (Senior Journalist), Rizwan Razi (Senior Journalist), Tanvir Shahzad (Freelance Journalist). (Courtesy: Dawn News Pakistan http://www.youtube.com/user/dawnnewspakistan )

ISLAMABAD: Top bureaucrats have emerged as the main beneficiaries of plot allotments since the days of General Musharraf. Dozens of lucky bureaucrats even managed to get two plots of 500 square yards (sq yds) each in the pricey sectors of Islamabad – quite in the same way as 14 Supreme Court (SC) judges. The latter category of beneficiaries received their plots in the up-market I-8, G-13 and G-14 sectors of the federal capital after framing a questionable policy tailor-made to suit them as well as their powerful collaborators in the judiciary. According to documents available with The Express Tribune, a total of about 7,000 plots were allotted, in category one to four, to officers and officials of different grades and categories since 2002 in two sectors of Islamabad. As many as 800 top bureaucrats, including federal secretaries and ambassadors (BPS-20 to 22), got a one kanal (600 sq yds) plot each in the G-13 and G-14 sectors of Islamabad, out of the 7,000 plots allotted since Musharraf came to power. Former Supreme Court chief justice Irshad Hassan Khan, who had endorsed Musharraf’s coup of October 12, 1999, is among the beneficiaries. Justice Hassan was given a plot after he retired from the apex court and was made Election Commissioner of Pakistan. His secretary Kunwar Dilshad also received a one kanal plot. Former Governor State Bank of Pakistan Muhammad Yaqoob also got a one kanal plot from General Musharraf in 2002 in Islamabad. The list of plot allotments reveals that the top bureaucracy (BPS-22) and the higher judiciary are the only two influential classes to get two plots in Islamabad in the name of “official policy”, crafted and endorsed by the beneficiaries themselves. The rest have to give an affidavit in writing that they did not have any plot in Islamabad before applying. The Express Tribune has already published two lists of 100 judges allotted plots in Islamabad since 1996.

Pakistani Journalists Living in Evacuee Trust Property Houses – Part – 5 (Matiullah Jan Dawn News)

 URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hirW4bUmtD8

Government has rented out abandoned property at prime locations in Lahore to journalists at extremely low rates. The beneficiaries also include some big names of journalism. In this episode of Apna Gareban, Matiullah Jan exposes the names of these journalists and tries to talk to them, but unfortunately most of them refused to talk and give their side of the story. Guests: Syed Asif Hashmi (Chairman, Evacuee Trust Board), Haris Marghoob (Senior Journalist), Mujeeb-ur-Rahman Shami (Senior Journalist), Rizwan Razi (Senior Journalist), Tanvir Shahzad (Freelance Journalist). (Courtesy: Dawn News Pakistan  http://www.youtube.com/user/dawnnewspakistan)

A total of 172 journalists were also allotted plots in keeping with government policy in G-13 and G-14. The policy stipulated that only those journalists who did not have a house in Islamabad nor had a plot allotted to them in the past could apply. Of the 650 journalists who applied in 2004 for G-14, only 172 could get plots after due process. Meanwhile, as a list of 172 journalists is lying before the PAC, a new one of 35 journalists has surfaced. These journalists were also given plots in G-8 Markaz in 1996 during Benazir Bhutto’s second term.  Some of the prominent journalists allotted plots for construction of flats in G-8 Markaz were Ayaz Amir, Hamid Mir, Aroosa Alam, Ehtashamul Haq, Nusrat Javed, Ishaq Chaudhary, and Nasir Malick. Mir, Haq and Alam have already sold their flats at a premium, after paying approximately Rs800,000 to the government. Many journalists had then applied for a second plot in G-13 and G-14. Some succeeded in getting them despite receiving a plot from the Bhutto government in 1996 as well. For a complete list of beneficiaries from the bureaucracy and to read earlier stories on the allotment issue, click here Trending: Plotbeneficiaries http://tribune.com.pk/plotbeneficiaries/  . Published in The Express Tribune, November 24th, 2010. REFERENCE: Generous bonanza : One plot, two plot Published: November 24, 2010 http://tribune.com.pk/story/81020/generous-bonanza-one-plot-two-plot/